Month: November 2005

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Hair Loss InformationFinasteride & Prostate Cancer – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

In a recent article in the Journal of Urology, an article was published which addressed the relationship between prostate cancer and the drug finasteride. The authors came out of various universities (Dr. G. Andriole was the lead author, Ref: J Urol. 2005 Dec;174(6):2098-2104)

Simply stated, what I read suggested to me that they reviewed the 7 year Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial that was finished a few years ago and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The conclusions of the original study showed that this drug (finasteride 5mgs) reduced the appearance of prostate cancer by a statistically significant degree. There were some questions about the ‘control’ group when compared to those that actually received the drug. These authors suggested that the difference in the severity of the malignancies that were identified between the two groups may not have been real, but rather they were the results of patient selection criteria based upon blood testing, amongst other things. This group still did feel that prostate cancer chemoprevention with finasteride needs further research, although I personally believe that they are ignoring good statistical evidence to the contrary. Keeping an open mind is always good.

Please note that I just wanted to share what I read with the readers of this blog. I do not own Merck stock and can not benefit from any opinions expressed here.

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Diet Causing Receding Hairline in Woman? – Balding Blog

Several years ago from a stressful situation, my hair started receding. I then found out that I am hypothyroid. Over the years it stabilized, but recently due to severe dieting, it started receding some more. What can I do to stop the recession and what can I do to have some of the hair regrow? Thank you.

You provided the answer to your own question. The recent weight loss may have precipitated the hair loss you reported and you will certainly need a proper diet with a positive protein balance before the hair loss can be reversed (assuming that the weight loss is responsible). Radical diet alterations to get a jump on weight loss is something that is common in our overweight society and weight loss of just a few pounds can cause of hair loss. You can imagine where the genetic process exists, extreme dieting can accelerate what may take years to unfold on its own. Some authorities believe that short term loss, by as little as 4-8 pound, can precipitate hair loss in men or women.

You will also need to be sure that your thyroid and other endocrine organs are functioning normally, including hormonal balance in the various female hormones. Although you didn’t specifically say if you were a man or a woman, judging by the name you gave, I’m going to assume you’re female.


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Hair Loss InformationRemoving a Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi, i’ve had two hair transplant procedures in the past. over the last couple of years i have just been shaving my head. i feel very uncomfortable going anywhere without a hat because of my scars. i would just like to be able to shave my head without the scars being so obvious. they are mostly right at my front hairline. can i go to a physician to have the transplants removed? and if they are removed will my scalp where the transpants are taken out heal so those little puncture holes are not as noticible? or could a procedure such a dermabrasion or laser help to smooth out the area? thank you

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Without seeing you it would be difficult to make an assessment. Please send photos to the email address on the Contact page.

Generally, it is difficult to put you back in time to the days before you had your hair transplanted. With that said, we can reverse it in many ways, and sometimes it might be brought back to the “before” status. I like to tell my patients that I have good news and bad news about hair transplants: they are permanent, so get it done right the first time. If you are amongst the unfortunate that did not time your procedure correctly with current technology, then the good news is that there is a great deal of experience now in removing or hiding the ugly plugs of the older types of hair transplants.

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Hair Loss InformationCole’s FIT and BHT Procedures – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What are your opinions on the techniques and procedures of Dr. John Cole, such as his FIT procedures which he acknowledges was developed from your FUE. However, the FIT is allegedly an improvement. Also, what do think about his claims regarding Body Hair Transplants. I know you have made previous comments regarding BHT’s. However, I am asking specifically about Dr. Coles procedures regarding BHT.

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FUE and FIT is exactly the same procedure, with some technique variations. There are a number of technical ways to do it and FIT is a proprietary brand name developed by Dr. Cole to show some unique identification for him. Body hair transplants are new with not much validation from other doctors. There are only a few patients with any history to the process and we do not know much about success rates in, let’s say, 100 patients overall. I am not surprised that they may work, but body hair is limited in numbers, usually growing as a single hair unit although there are some two-hair groups. The hair has a different character than scalp hair, but Dr. Cole’s claims have no real science with them, although I am not saying that it is not true, just not proven scientifically. I would not jump into it just yet. It is, in my opinion, still an experimental procedure.

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Hair Loss InformationTransplanting Hair Into Burned Tissue – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr.
I am a recovered burn patient from childhood with forehead scars that extend to my left temple area. I was able to grow my hair to cover it as a young man until my late 30’s. My hair started to thin and I now wear a hair system to cover and blend the non hair scarred area. Are hair transplants now being able to be transplanted into scarred areas that are cosemetically acceptable. I have been told that bloodflow below my scarred areas is still good. Thank you for your response.

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If your skin is what we call a full thickness, hair may be able to grow from it. If it is covered with a split thickness of skin and scar, it may not support hair growth. There are things that can be done today to bring your hair-baring skin here and may include a variety of surgeries like flaps, and balloon-stretching the normal scalp and rearranging it to cover the bare area. Some of the results are remarkable. I would be happy to give you an opinion and as you’ve indicated that you are in Southern California, I would suggest that you make an appointment with me and maybe together, we can address your problem. Please call my office at 800-NEW-HAIR to set up a free consultation.

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Hair Loss InformationIs Hair Cloning Nearing Reality? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,
I was searching the web on the current state of hair cloning and came across an article from WebMD. From the article, Dr. Washenik talks about how hair cloning will be ready in 3 or 4 years. What’s your take on that? Thanks

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Dr. Washenik is a reliable source. Like me, he is overly optimistic on some things, but I believe that his timeline have not panned out in the past, so I would expect the same for the future. I do believe that hair cloning will come, but because of legislative challenges, I would doubt that we would be allowed to offer it without FDA and government policy changes, which will take years. The priority of organ cloning must go to the people who are at risk to life (liver, heart, and brain problems) well before the government will allow it for its cosmetic value (in my opinion, of course).

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Hair Loss InformationSideburn Transplants – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

How many sideburn transplants have you performed and what is the success rate? How much do you charge per follicular unit? Where are you located?

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Although I couldn’t guess the exact number, we have done many sideburn transplants, more in women who had plastic surgery problems following a face lift, rather than men. However, they work wonderfully for both sexes (see Other Hair Restoration Photos).

The fee is $6/graft, or for those with more flexible schedules we have a Standby fee at $5/graft. We have a minimum surgical fee of $3000 (this includes everything except a basic blood test. Our fee includes anesthesia fees, medications after surgery, etc). My personal charge is higher per graft; the minimum fee is $3,500 with me at $10/graft, whichever is greater. We have locations in Los Angeles and San Jose, California.

For more info on pricing and locations, please see:

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Hair Loss InformationBalding Fast, Even on Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 22 years old and have been taking Propecia for 2 years. Although the hair loss slowed a bit, I now see the rim of hair that my dad has around the back and sides of his head. What can I do? Are hair transplants the only option left for me?

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You situation reflects that there will be progression of hair loss over a period of months/years, probably taking you to your father’s pattern sooner or later (sounds like sooner, rather than later). The variable response to finasteride speaks to the complexity of the factors at play. Included in these factors are variables like the sensitivity of your androgen receptors, as expressed by androgen receptor gene polymorphism. Simply stated, we can not come up with one treatment for all people, as each of us are different and have different sensitivities to the hormone environment in our body. We make androgens in our adrenal glands as well, and these androgens impact the hair end organ as well as DHT.

It is possible that you might respond better to Avodart, but even that medication may not do what you want. Avodart is not approved by the FDA for hair loss, so if you find a doctor willing to prescribe it, you should weigh the disadvantages of taking it (see previous blog entries) and the safety factors that may relate to having children when you are on the pill.

If you can already see the Class 7 pattern in the mirror that your father is showing, much of what you have lost may not be reversible. You should be checked out for other diseases, but in the probable event that your hair loss in only genetic, then hair transplantation is an option that you might consider. If your densities are good, if you have blonde hair or become blonde, if your hair thickness is reasonable, if you are willing to style your hair to take advantage of hair redistribution, you might have an amazingly good response to hair transplantation. As a general rule of thumb, most good hair transplant doctors do not take on young men prior to 25 years old, but with good support from your family, adequate financial planning, and a maturity that can allow you (best with the help of a parent) to make an informed decision, then you should explore the hair transplant option with an ethical and experienced hair transplant surgeon if you do not try the Avodart option or if the Avodart option fails to solve your problem.

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Hair Loss InformationPropecia for Stopping Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 26 and my hair has been thinning for a couple of years now. I have some loss on the vertex and some at the corners of the front of my hairline. I have been on propecia for about a month now. I know propecia will not regrow the hair on my hairline, but what is the likelihood it will stop further loss?

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It is highly likely that Propecia will slow or stop the hair loss and possibly reverse the crown thinning. Frontal reversal is less likely. Still, I think that you should plot the miniaturization of your impacted area at least once a year, so that you know what is actually happening. The plot will paint your future much better and will help you plan accordingly.

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Hair Loss InformationSevere Hair Loss from Ortho Evra? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Use Ortho Evra for approximately one year and I am experiencing severe scalp hair loss. Will my hair ever stop falling out? I can barely touch my hair without losing a very large amount. I am very worried.

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Hormones and birth control pills are one of the causes of hair loss in women for those who have the genetic predisposition for hair loss. It may reverse by stopping the hormone/birth control pills or it may just stop the progressive loss you are experiencing and hold it at its present status. Ortho Evra has had recent publicity (it has 60% more estrogen) which points to causes of the problems you are having. For details about the new safety information, please read New Important Labeling Information at the official Ortho Evra website.